This morning on Mt. Herzl: State Memorial Ceremony for the fallen of the Yom Kippur War

The students again on holiday: Thousands expected to go abroad this week

Fire in the north burned hundreds of dunams; Residents of Amirim evacuated from their homes

Peace Talk Highlights:
US Secretary of State arrives in the country today to brief Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on the deal
to disarm Syria of chemical weapons and discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Haaretz writes that
he will also meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today. Maariv quoted a US
spokesperson who said that the goal of the meeting will be "deep talks with the Prime Minister on negotiations
for a final status agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians." Yedioth wrote that after the two sides
have already held six meetings, "the Secretary of State will try to push the sides to arrive at the moment of
truth - a real discussion on borders and the presentation of maps [which is what the Palestinians have been
demanding - OH].

According to Science Minister Yaakov Peri (Yesh Atid) the peace talks are taking place in a good and conservative
atmosphere. This he told participants at a gala event of the Israeli Forum of Chief Financial Officers last night,
NRG Hebrew reported. He called the negotiations "An opening shot for long and difficult journey that will be paved
with crises, but will likely lead towards understandings and even more - an historic diplomatic agreement. Time is
running out for the Palestinians and for us, there will not be many more opportunities to solve this conflict. The
tailwind of the public will be critical to the success of the talks or to preserving the talks in tough times. I
think the Israeli public understands this. The strength the public has shown during difficult moments, such as
releasing of the terrorists, proves it wants an agreement, it wants peace, even at a painful price. The government
of Israel will act to end this journey with a diplomatic arrangement, with security arrangements and with the
establishment of a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel." (NRG Hebrew)

Syria-related News:
The papers front pages focused on the fact that a US attack on Syria is no longer in the cards. The US and Russia
have made an agreement for the disarmament of Syrian chemical weapons within a year. Today US Secretary of State
John Kerry arrives in Israel and will brief Netanyahu on the deal. Yedioth reported that in
Jerusalem, officials were surprised by the US adamance to force Russia to put a six month time limit to the
disarmament. Yedioth's Itamar Eichner also wrote that Israel fears that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad won't
fufill his side of the agreement and some papers printed reports that he has already moved the weapons to hiding
places. Some commentators wondered whether Israel will be required to sign an agreement to disarm itself of
chemical weapons and they all noted a US report that Israel stopped producing them nine years ago. Meanwhile, the Syrian rebel chief rejected the US-Russia deal.

Quick Hits:

Settlers raze Palestinian land near Nablus, 7 held - Israeli settlers from Elon Moreh
accompanied by bulldozers razed Palestinian land east of Salim village on Thursday, leading to clashes. Two
Palestinians were injured and seven were detained by the army. (Maan)

Israeli forces assault mentally disabled woman in Hebron - A large force of Israeli soldiers
raided the home of Khalil Mahmoud Abu Dayya in Beit Ummar. His mentally-disabled sister Nabila tried to stop
the soldiers. The soldiers beat and kicked her, before throwing a stun grenade into the house. (Maan)

Israeli forces detain 3 teens in Jenin, locals say - A Israeli military patrol raided the
village of Yabad and arrested three boys between 14 and 15 years old. (Maan)

The settlement outpost was evacuated on Yom Kippur - After the fast already began, Border
Police and police forces evacuated seven youth from the Ramat Migron outposts, a closed military zone that it
is forbidden to enter. The right-wing was outraged: "This lacks all reason." Police: This was an act to enforce
the law. (Yedioth, p. 12)

President of Olympic Committee promotes boycott on Israel - Thomas Bach, who was elected this
week as the President of the OC, is involved in promoting a boycott on Israeli products in cooperation with the
Arab League. He also opposed a moment of silence at the London Olympics in remembrance of the Munich victims.
Simon Wiesenthal Center calls on him to quit his position at the German-Arab center for commerce.
(Maariv, p. 1/NRG Hebrew and Times of Israel)

Will the 'enemy of the settlement enterprise' replace Lador as State Attorney? Shai Nitzan,
who is close to Yehuda Weinstein, who is expected to support his candidacy, was accused of constantly accused
of particularly selective law enforcement. The right-wing is worried. When Nitzan was chosen as Deputy State
Attorney some two years ago, the right-wing protested and Netanyahu announced he would not deal with issues
pertaining to Judea and Samaria (W. Bank). (Maariv, p. 6/NRG Hebrew)

Following the criticism, Netanyahu reconsidering the Governance Law - PM decided to freeze the
legislation that Lieberman initiated to discuss it again. The main dispute: raising the election threshold,
which would push the small parties out of the Knesset [particularly the Arab ones - OH]. (Maariv, p. 1/NRG Hebrew)

Why do secular Israeli schools need rabbis? According to a pilot program for the current
school year, a 'school rabbi' will be appointed for every state-run primary school in two Haifa suburbs.
(Haaretz)

Danon to Netanyahu: My comments weren't aimed at you - Netanyahu asked Deputy Defense Minister
Danny Danon to explain comment that any Likud member who supports an interim agreement with the Palestinians
needs to be expelled from the part. Danon: PM is opposed anyhow to such an agreement. (Israel Hayom)

Meet the settlers - The British Daily Telegraph posted an internet series that travels between
Israeli military checkpoints and wineries, between international boycotts and the joint shopping at a Rami Levy
supermarket (in the W. Bank). The Yesha settler council as you have never seen it. (Maariv, p. 24/NRG Hebrew and Daily Telegraph)

**Fly to Istanbul and back for $131 - it seems that Turkish Prime Minister's recent harsh
statements against Israel have resulted in renewed attempts to lure the Israeli audience. Turkish Airlines is
wooing Israeli passengers by adding seven more weekly flights on Tel Aviv-Istanbul route and offering
non-refundable cheap plane tickets. (Ynet)

IMF urges Israel to ease Palestinian financial curbs - The International Monetary Fund urged
Israel to ease financial restrictions on Palestinians, warning that the Palestinian economy would otherwise not
be viable. An IMF report said the Palestinian Authority faced a budget deficit of $300 million by the end of
2013. (Agencies, Maan)

Jihad leader: Arafat killed for not giving in to talk demands - Islamic Jihad leader Mohammed
al-Hindi said Friday that late president Yasser Arafat was killed for not giving in to pressure to sign an
agreement at the Camp David summit in 2000. (Maan)

Egypt's Mubarak waves, grins as his trial resumes - Defense lawyer suggests that Muslim
Brotherhood and Palestinian militants were behind killings of protesters during 2011 uprising - deaths for
which Mubarak and others are being indicted. (Agencies, Haaretz)

Egyptian army destabilizing Hamas rule in Gaza - Within the framework of its war on Jihad in
Sinai and on Hamas in Gaza, the Egyptian army is establishing its own 'Philadelphi Route' - A buffer zone the
length of the border - that would destroy the tunnel smuggling industry. Worried Hamas leaders ordered mosque
preachers to stop attacking the new government in Cairo. But in the meantime, the (anti-Morsi) Al-Tamarod
Movement that led the revolution in Cairo, already opened a branch in Gaza. (Maariv, p. 10/NRG Hebrew)

Features:

Jericho First - and nothing since
Without making a living, without customers, without money, without hope. A reporter and photographer of Maariv
visited the first city that was transferred to the control of the Palestinian Authority after the Oslo Agreements
and left it more pessimistic than ever. (By Asaf Gabor and photographer Yossi Aloni, Maariv/NRG HebrewPHOTOS)An Israeli-Jordanian park: mission impossible?
An abandoned hydroelectric power station founded in the Jordan valley in 1927 serves as a vestige of regional
cooperation; an environmental group is now collaborating with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian planners to
preserve the historical site - a process fraught with obstacles. (Haaretz)

Commentary/Analysis:

Will Kerry ask Israel to ratify chemical weapons treaty, with Syria plan afoot? (Barak Ravid,
Haaretz) Should Israel agree to dismantle its own chemical arsenal - if one does in fact
exist - it could win the international credit it desperately needs, and also maintain more important strategic
security interests.The best way out (Amir Rappaport, Maariv/NRG Hebrew) The arrangement is the best way out for all sides. It establishes Russia's
status as almost equal in weight to the US and Obama can also be satisfied with it: He has avoided getting
embroiled and from an action that his public opinion opposes.... And what about Israel? The assessments in
Israel on the eve of Yom Kippur were that disarming Syria of non-conventional weapons is a great achievement, if
indeed it occurs. On the optimistic side, it is possible to see that the tangible threat of an attack can lead
to results, and that perhaps this will lead to results in the future regarding Iran as well. The less optimistic
assessment is that America's overall conduct broadcasts a weakness that can only encourage Iran to continue with
its nuclear program based on the assumption that the US will always find a reason not to attack...U.S.- Russia agreement on Syrian chemical weapons, is, theoretically, a godsend for Israel (Chemi
Shalev, Haaretz) The pitfalls are obvious, but the successful removal of Syria's chemical arsenal
would eliminate a major strategic threat to Israel's security. Tel Aviv and Tehran will both be watching
closely.An exam in chemistry - Is disarmament possible? (Ronen Bergman, Yedioth) "The
agreement between Russia and the US that was signed yesterday in Geneva is good news for Israel. The two
superpowers have agreed to get rid of one of the main threats that has been hovering over our heads for the past
three decades...How could anyone be sure that Assad will have shown the inspectors all of the weapons at his
disposal?" Bergman writes that he doubts whether the Russians will ever approve the use of force or even sanctions
or that the Americans will attack Syria should, say, the inspectors be refused entry to a particular installation.
He also doubts that, given the conditions inside Syria, it will be very difficult to ensure the inspectors' safety
and cites expert opinions that actually destroying Syria's stock of chemical weapons could take at least two years.
"The bottom line is that even if dismantling Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons doesn't take place as planned,
from Israel's point-of-view, this is very positive progress...Who loses from the agreement? First and foremost, the
citizens of Syria do. Assad and his cohorts are continuing to perpetrate appalling war crimes and are not being
held accountable. 120,000 Syrians have already been slaughtered and no one is stopping the horror."Yom Kippur War: Israel's tragedy remembered as Egypt's triumph (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz) What Israelis remember as the debacle of the Yom Kippur War, Egyptians venerate as
the glory of 'October.'Looks good on paper (Ron Ben-Yishai, Ynet) US-Russian deal to eliminate Assad's chemical weapons obviously positive, but its
implementation will not be easy.American arms, not boots, on the ground in Syria? (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz) U.S. is looking to play a bigger, albeit clandestine, role in helping the Syrian
rebels in the war against Assad.New lessons from 1973: Is it acceptable to lie during times of war? (Amos Harel, Haaretz) The Yom Kippur War constitutes an interesting laboratory for exploring the truth -
and more specifically, to whom it is permissible to lie in wartime.Oslo is dead, long live Palestine (Nasser Lahham, Maan) Twenty years after the Oslo Accords were signed, it has become clear that the Arabs
have failed in every field, while the Palestinians have triumphed over their circumstances.Forty years on and we still haven't learned the true lesson (Haaretz Friday Editorial) Israel is convinced that it will live by the sword forever and that
therefore there is no point in making efforts for peace. That is the greatest sin. Ramallah, Gaza and the Palestinian identity crisis (Ramzy Baroud, Maan) There was indeed a time in which a Palestinian teacher in Kuwait held similar ideals to
a refugee from Lebanon, to a student in Russia, and to a laborer in Gaza. Those times are long gone and many
factors contributed to the demise of the collective Palestinian discourse. never before.The privatization of Al-Qaida (Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz) The Russian plan to supervise and disarm Syria of chemical weapons has a lot to do
with Al-Qaida.The failures of the successful (Amnon Lord, Maariv/NRG Hebrew) After Assad receives immunity, it is expected Obama will also give
legitimacy to Iran through meetings with Rouhani and the support of Putin's initiative to build another nuclear
reactor.The importance of being an oasis of stability (Yoel Marcus, Haaretz) Is it really in Israel's interest for Assad to fall and be replaced by Hezbollah and
Al-Qaida? Who knows, perhaps the agreement to be reached will apply to Iran and liberate us from our
paranoia? 20 years to Oslo (Prof. Efraim Inbar, Israel Hayom) While the Oslo process failed to attain peace and security for Israel, it
relieved it of the Palestinian burden. Hail to the IDF chief (Haaretz Editorial) Gantz is emerging as a dedicated, down-to-earth public servant, who
fulfills an important role in the checks and balances system of decision making regarding Israel's
security.The children of winter 1973 (Yoaz Hendel, Yedioth/Ynet) Post-Yom Kippur War Israel is a country which has abandoned concept of
solidarity in favor of sanctifying individual.Golda versus Bibi (Amir Oren, Haaretz) Despite her blunders in the Yom Kippur War, Golda Meir didn't have Netanyahu's
arrogance. His enthusiasm for an operation against Iran may lose him his Washington flank.Murder will only continue (Hagai Segal, Ynet) Assad proved a long time ago that in addition to being a mass murderer, he is also a
compulsive liar.The real Ramallah (Gideon Levy, Haaretz) The West Bank's roads are relatively open to Palestinians and - wonder of wonders -
terror has not resumed. The conclusions should be clear: it is safe to open the West Bank.They don't learn (Dr. Cielo Rozenberg, Maariv/NRG Hebrew) There is no real possibility to supervise the chemical weapons stockpiles
in Syria. The world has failed, time after time, in similar circumstances. The most obvious example is
Iran.Defining who is an Israeli (A.B. Yehoshua, Haaretz) When Israeli citizens define themselves as Jews - instead of Israelis - they weaken
their link to the country and bar national identity from flourishing.Ditch the analogies (Varda Meyers Epstein, Ynet) Death of innocent civilians in Syria is horrific, but Holocaust is standalone event in
modern history.Netanyahu's remarks on Iran: a cheap shot at Obama (Alon Pinkas, Haaretz) PM Netanyahu is both foolish and plain wrong to criticize President Obama by stating
that Israel can only rely on itself to act on Iran in view of the U.S.'s risk-averse Syria policy.

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.